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BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), has launched a website to
help healthcare organisations comply with the EU Directive on the
prevention of sharps injuries.

The EU Directive on sharps injury prevention[1] provides framework for
eliminating sharps injuries, and must be incorporated into national
law in all EU member states by 11 May 2013 at the latest. BD’s new
safety website is designed to help healthcare workers and their
organisations comply with this new legislation.

Every day, healthcare workers across Europe are at risk of sharps
injuries, which can result in possible infection from 30 potentially
dangerous blood-borne pathogens, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C
and HIV[2]. Sharps injuries are a serious occupational hazard faced
by healthcare workers, with an estimated one million occurring in
the European Union each year[3], and more than 100,000 every year
in the UK alone[4].

Forward-thinking healthcare organisations across Europe have
already realised the benefit of introducing safer working practices
before the mandatory deadline, and have acted early. Introducing a
culture of safety rests on affecting change at a number of levels.

Kim Sunley, Senior Employment Relations Advisor, Royal College of
Nursing (RCN), says, “The RCN played a key role in calling for the
EU Directive, which presents us with a great opportunity to lead the
way, and there’s no reason why hospitals in the UK can’t set the
standard. Working alongside BD has helped to reflect the importance
of the nursing voice as we try to reduce the risk of sharps
injuries. By working together with healthcare professionals and
management, we can create a culture of safety for all nursing
staff.”

Alexandre Conroy, President, Western Europe, BD, reinforces BD’s
stance on safety: “BD is committed to raising awareness of the
everyday risks faced by healthcare workers, and the precautions they
can adopt to improve safety. We hope that this new website will
become an important portal for the provision of information,
guidance and best practice in the industry.”

The new safety website also provides an overview of BD’s newly
launched healthcare worker safety programme. The website, currently
available in English, can be found at:
www.bd.com/europe/safety.

French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and other language
versions of the website will also be launched.

References

1. EU Council Directive 2010/32/EU

2. European Biosafety Workshop; Prevention of sharps injuries in
the hospital and healthcare sector; Implementation guidance for the
EU Framework Agreement, council directive and associated national
legislation.